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Warning over high levels of salt in children's food

28/01/2008

Some food eaten by children contains more than half the daily maximum limit of salt in a single serving, new research has revealed today.

While adults are recommended to eat no more than 6g of salt a day, guidelines say children aged four to six should have under 3g a day.

Those aged between one and three should have no more than 2g.

Despite this, a study conducted by Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash) found that some savoury foods have more than 1g of salt per serving.

Batchelor's roast chicken flavour super noodles-to-go have 4.05g of salt per portion, while Morrison's southern fried chicken portions had 2.8g of salt per portion of one thigh and one drumstick.

Cash also identified worrying levels of salt in sweet foods.

Over 2g of salt was found in Butterkist butter flavour microwave popcorn and Asda's fresh roly poly pudding contained 1.1g of salt.

Cash chairman Professor Graham MacGregor, professor of cardiovascular medicine at St George's hospital in London, warned that too much salt in children's diets are linked to a number of health problems in later life including heart disease, stomach cancer and osteoporosis.

"Keeping children's salt consumption below the recommended maximum limits is vital," he said.

"Research published just last year showed that children who eat higher salt diets have higher blood pressure than children who eat less salt. It is also well established that blood pressure tracks into adulthood.

Professor MacGregor added: "Anything that lowers blood pressure in childhood is likely to translate into lower levels of blood pressure in adult life, with reduced risk of developing heart disease and stroke."

A survey conducted by the parenting website Netmums.com released with today's research warns that parental awareness of the amount of salt their children are eating is low.

Only three per cent of the parents taking part knew that a blueberry muffin has more salt than two standard bags of crisps and just ten per cent knew that a serving of Rice Krispie-style breakfast cereal with milk contains more salt than a packet of ready salted crisps.

"Many parents know that their children should eat less salt than adults and we know that most parents do not add salt when they are cooking for their children," said Cash nutritionist Jo Butten.

"But they are still confused by labelling that does not clearly state the salt content for a realistic portion and they do not expect sweet foods such as cakes, muffins, puddings and breakfast cereals to contain high levels of salt."

Cash and the British Heart Foundation say today's findings illustrate the need for the levels of salt in food to be made clearer.

Betty McBride, director of policy and communications for the British Heart Foundation, said: "This must be a red light moment for food manufacturers, let's get colour coded labels on food packs now."

Last week the health secretary announced food labels are to be studied to decide on a clear system for the food industry to use.